The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Arctic blast brings parts of Scotland to a grinding halt
WEATHER: Subzero temperatures, expected, but little chance of snow
A blast of Arctic weather brought freezing temperatures to Scotland yesterday, grinding trains to a halt and causing white-out conditions on roads.
Temperatures plummeted to -3.8C in Renfrewshire in the wake of Storm Caroline and are forecast to plunge to -8C in regions that have experienced snowfall.
Strathallan School was forced to cancel all of today’s eight home fixtures against Dundee High due to frozen pitches.
The A93 Perth to Braemar road was closed at the Spittal of Glenshee due to snow yesterday morning, while the B974 Fettercairn to Banchory road was also briefly shut.
Trains between Perth and Inverness were affected by snow in the north, while journeys including the 6.10pm from Glasgow to Inverness were terminated in Perth.
The freezing temperatures prompted bosses at the Tay Road Bridge to warn motorists to “take extra care” on the crossing.
Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Moray and the Highlands and Islands experienced the most snowfall, with a number of schools forced to close.
A Met Office yellow warning for snow and ice remains in place for Tayside and Fife until 6pm on Saturday – however, forecasters say there is only a slight chance of snow for much of the region.
Met Office spokeswoman, Nicola Maxey, said: “If we look at Saturday temperatures are hovering just above freezing at 2C or 3C at most during the day.
“You’ve got some quite strong west and north-westerly winds which are causing wind chill, although temperatures get to around 2C it is going to feel more like -4C or -5C.”
She continued: “Sunday is a very similar day but with more cloud and less sunshine.
“Overnight temperatures into Saturday and into Sunday will be at least -4C and probably below that in rural areas, over higher ground where there is lying snow in particular.
Meanwhile, Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks said it had restored power to more than 18,000 homes during the course of Storm Caroline, which brought widespread chaos to parts of Scotland on Thursday.
If we look at Saturday temperatures are hovering just above freezing at 2C or 3C at most during the day. NICOLA MAXEY, MET OFFICE